Phantom Warriors: Arctos Read Online Free Page B

thought. Her traitorous gaze slid of its own volition to Arctos’ wide shoulders.
    She cleared her throat and tore her eyes away, focusing instead on a smal door on the left toward the back of the cabin. “I’m going to see what else is here. Check if they have any…uh…blankets,” she said, not waiting for a response.
    Caitlin poked her head inside the room and saw a decent sized bed and what looked to be a primitive bathroom. She’d kil for a hot bath. Excited, she rushed toward the room and threw open the door, only to find a porcelain washbasin, a freestanding claw-tub, and a portable self-contained flush toilet. There was a cast iron pot next to the bathtub with a set of potholders wrapped around its metal handle.
    Her heart sank. So much for having a hot bath. Unless she wanted to melt snow in the fireplace and fil that tub, it wasn’t going to happen. Caitlin supposed she should be grateful that whoever had built the shack had at least sprung for the toilet or she’d find herself making several trips outside. She shuddered at the thought of squatting in the snow.
    Despite her chosen profession, Caitlin wasn’t much for roughing it. Sure, she’d camp if she had to, but only if she had to. She much preferred taking day trips. That way she could work al day and sleep in a real bed at night. At least there was a bed, she thought. Caitlin spotted a rusted first aid kit under the washbasin. It looked old like it hadn’t been replenished in a while. Didn’t matter. It would have to do.
    The tinkling sound of her cel phone reached her.
    Tearing out of the bathroom, Caitlin rushed into the main room, only to find Arctos standing over her bag with some kind of weapon drawn. His eyes were narrowed and his muscles tense.
    She skidded to a halt. “What are you doing?” she asked, not daring to get any closer for fear he’d fire and kil her bag.
    Her gaze shifted to the weapon once more. The size of a smal stun-gun, it didn’t have a discernible barrel. Caitlin did not recognize the gun model, but that didn’t mean anything. She was in no way a weapons specialist. She’d only learned to shoot a pistol and a rifle because of her job.

    A camera was her weapon of choice.
    “There is something inside your belongings,” Arctos said, his gaze never wavering from the pack.
    Caitlin would’ve laughed, if he hadn’t looked so serious. “It’s just my phone. What you’re hearing is the ringtone for my friend, Al ie. A little odd maybe, but hardly suspect.”
    The cel rang again.
    “I real y need to get that.” She pointed to her bag.
    “Al ie’s probably worried sick that I haven’t returned.” His brow furrowed. “It’s a communication device?”
    “Yeah, like I said, it’s my cel phone.” Caitlin put the first aid kit on the table, then took a step closer. “I promise it won’t bite.”
    His gaze met hers. Arctos studied her as if gauging the truth of her words then lowered his weapon.
    Caitlin reached into her bag and rummaged around for her phone, praying she got to it before it went to voicemail. “Hel o?”
    “Where are you?” Al ie shouted over thumping music.
    “You were supposed to meet me at Rob’s party.
    Mike’s here already.”
    Caitlin scrambled to remember. Party? Party? Party?
    She recal ed Al ie mentioning something about a fireman fundraiser. Was that tonight? She searched her brain. Oh crap, it was and she’d agreed to go with Mike. Ugh! Caitlin knew she should’ve never let Al ie talk her into going on a double date. “I—”
    Al ie cut her off before she could say another word. “No more excuses. I let you out of the last two parties. You promised. I told Mike that you would be here. You told him that you’d be here. He’s stoked to get to know you better.
    Told me to pass along that he thinks you’re cute.”
    “Yeah, I bet.” Caitlin didn’t mean to sound cynical, but in her experience ‘cute’ was code for smal . Most guys used her size as an excuse to not take